Week in Review: January 12th-16th

We had a fantastic week in Lower Elementary! From binomials to bead boards, students were busy at work!

This week for language jobs, first graders continued working with prefixes, placed words in ABC order by the second letter, worked with verbs, and practiced dictionary skills. Second graders worked with prefixes, sorted adverbs according to their type, wrote sentences containing contractions, and reviewed possessive nouns. Third graders had continued work with homonyms and pronouns, reviewed contractions, and identified possessive nouns.

This week for math jobs, first graders used the bead board to solve multiplication problems, reviewed ordinal numbers, and worked with Roman Numerals through 20. Second graders used the bead bars to create the decanomial work, solved subtraction problems, worked with probability, and wrote Roman Numerals for numbers up to 100. Third graders continued their work with math operations, used the peg board to find common factors of a number, and wrote Roman Numerals for numbers up to 1000.

For cultural studies this week, students reviewed simple machines and were then introduced to the idea of compound machines. Using the Smartboard and videos, students learned that compound machines contain two or more simple machines. Students enjoyed finding and labeling the compound machines in our environment.

Students also enjoyed doing some preliminary research on Argentina in preparation for the JBMA International Day (sponsored by the PTO) on February 28th. Students, working in groups, used the Google Cromebooks to research some basic facts about Argentina. Did you know that Argentina is home to seals and even some penguins?!!

Next week, students will work with suffixes, prefixes, story elements, measurement, and much more! We look forward to another wonderful week!

Reminders 

Homework is sent home each Monday and due by Friday. Please have your child read each night for at least 30 minutes and record the title in his or her reading log. 

Dates

January 19th- No School - MLK Jr. Day 

January 29th- Parent's Night 

Second Graders are busy at work!

Second graders complete the decanomial layout. This job uses beads to show multiplication facts!

Week in Review - January 5th-9th

We had a wonderful first week back from Winter Break! We were all excited to be back together again, despite the cold weather!

This week for language jobs, first graders identified prefixes, sorted phrases from sentences, and were introduced to verbs. Second graders worked to identify common prefixes, were introduced to adverbs, and created contractions from two separate words. Third graders worked with homonyms, were introduced to pronouns, worked with contractions, and reviewed possessive nouns.

This week for math jobs, first graders were introduced to ordinal numbers through 20, practiced rounding numbers to 100, and completed addition problems with three addends. Second graders completed addition problems with multiple addends, subtracted fractions, were introduced to terms used in determining probability, and solved addition and subtraction word problems by estimating. Third graders continued their work with math operations, found the perimeter and area of polygons found in the geometry cabinet, were introduced to probability, and completed multiplication word problems by rounding.

Next week, students will work with prefixes, contractions, probability, Roman Numerals, hone their dictionary skills, and much more! We look forward to another fantastic week!

Reminders 

Homework is sent home each Monday and due by Friday. Please have your child read each night for at least 30 minutes and record the title in his or her reading log. 

Vision screening papers went home this week. If you wish for your child to participate, please return the form and a $9.00 fee to the school before January 9th. The vision screening will take place on January 13th. 

Dates

January 13th- Vision Screening 

January 19th- No School - MLK Jr. Day 

January 29th- Parent's Night 

Week in Review: December 8-12

We had a fantastic week in Lower Elementary! Students are busy rehearsing for our holiday program on Tuesday night!

For language jobs this week, first grade students worked with prefixes, reviewed adding "s" and "es" to make nouns plural, and matched animals to their homes. Second grade students worked with prefixes, wrote their own sentences containing prepositions, and were introduced to some irregular plural words. Third grade students worked with homographs, adverbs, and irregular plural words.

For math jobs this week, first grade students solved multiplication problems using the golden beads, added fractions, and reviewed telling time. Second grade students worked with multiplication, subtracted fractions, and worked with telling time. Third grade students solved division problems, added fractions containing whole numbers, and worked with elapsed time.

For cultural jobs, students began research on a flag from a country of their choice. Students used the internet and atlases to learn facts about the country and their flag. Students also drew a replica of the flag they had chosen. We can't wait to see the finished products!

Next week will be a busy and exciting one for our students! We will go bowling at Oak Mountain Lanes on Wednesday and sing at Shelby Ridge Nursing Home on Thursday! We look forward to a wonderful week!

Reminders

- Homework will not be sent home on Monday, December 15th  due to the Winter Holiday break.

-Please be sure to send in permission slips for our bowling trip as well as our trip to Shelby Ridge. Along with the permission slips, please send $5.00 for the amaryllis bulbs as soon as possible.

Important Dates 

December 16th- Holiday Program (Lower, Upper, and Middle) 7pm
December 17th- Lower Elementary goes bowling 10-11am
December 18th- Lower to Shelby Ridge 10-11am
December 19th- Dismiss at 1pm - No Aftercare
December 22nd - January 2nd - No School (Winter Break)

Week in Review : December 1st-5th

We had another wonderful week in Lower Elementary! We have enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. From planting bulbs to experimenting with simple machines, students had been busy at work!

For language jobs this week, first graders were introduced to syllables and prefixes, matched animal names with their homes, and continued creating plural words by adding -es. Second graders reviewed syllables, worked with prefixes and prepositions, and created plural words. Third graders worked with syllables, reviewed homophones, explored analogies, and created plural words.

For math jobs this week, first graders counted coins, solved multiplication problems with the golden beads, read tally charts, and explored basic geometry concepts. Second graders rounded amounts of money, read tally charts and pictographs, and explored geometry concepts involving various positions of a straight line (vertical, horizontal, and oblique). Third graders rounded amounts of money to the nearest dollar, practiced math operations, read bar and circle graphs, and explored the relationship between two parallel lines.

For cultural jobs his week, students heard the last Great Lesson. This fifth great lesson was called "The History of Numbers". Students also had an opportunity to complete experiments with simple machines. Students used every day objects to create a lever, screw, and an inclined plane.

Montessori Minute - Golden Bead Multiplication

The child is introduced to the concept of multiplication with the Golden Beads. Multiplication is initially presented as addition, with the same value multiple times. For example, 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. The addition of 3, four times, is the same as 3 x 4 = 12. The Golden Beads provide a concrete experience for the child to multiply numbers visually. The student first completes multiplication problems that do not require exchanging, for example: 222 x 4 = 888. They then progress to problems that do require exchanging, such as 222 x 6 = 1332. In the initial lesson students learn the language of multiplication: multiplicand and multiplier, or factors, as well as the term product.

Reminders

- Homework will be sent home on Monday, December 8th but will not be sent home on Monday, December 15th  due to the Winter Holiday break.

-Please be sure to send in permission slips for our bowling trip as well as our trip to Shelby Ridge. Along with the permission slips, please send $5.00 for the amaryllis bulbs as soon as possible.

Important Dates 

December 5th - Middle School Holiday Store (Lower goes from 10-11)
December 16th- Holiday Program (Lower, Upper, and Middle) 7pm
December 17th- Lower Elementary goes bowling 10-11am
December 18th- Lower to Shelby Ridge 10-11am
December 19th- Dismiss at 1pm - No Aftercare
December 22nd - January 2nd - No School (Winter Break)

Week in Review : November 17th-21st

We had another excellent week in Lower Elementary! Students did a wonderful job sharing their thoughts on love and giving during our Peace Ceremony on Friday!

For language jobs this week, first graders had further practice with homonyms, explored adding -es to the end of words to make them plural and wrote their own "noun families". Second graders chose a word study job, created plural words and worked with preposition boxes. Third graders worked with homophones, created plural words and matched adverbs to the correct verb.

For math jobs this week, first graders practiced counting quarters, solved addition and multiplication problems, practiced adding fractions, and told time to the quarter hour. Second graders were introduced to the Bank Game, solved multiplication using the checkerboard, practiced adding fractions, and told time to the minute. Third graders solved subtraction and division problems, multiplied fractions, calculated elapsed time, and rounded numbers to the ten thousands place.

For cultural jobs this week, students continued their research of a flag from North America as well as their study of the Earth's various climate zones. After learning about the cave drawings, students also got a chance to create their own cave drawing using oil pastels and brown paper. Come check out their drawings which are hanging in the hallway!

Next week, students will be busy with language, math, choice, and cultural jobs! We look forward to a great (although short) week!

Montessori Minute- Preposition Grammar Boxes 

Grammar boxes help children learn and analyze different parts of speech. Students work with the materials in Grammar Box 5 to further their understanding of the function and usage of prepositions. They work with prepositions associated with spatial and temporal relations, as well as possession. 

Reminders

- Homework will not be sent home on Monday, November 24th due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Important Dates 

November 21st - Talent Show 7:00
November 25th - Dismiss at 1:00 No Aftercare
November 26th, 27th, 28th - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)
December 5th - Middle School Holiday Store (Lower goes from 10-11)
December 16th- Holiday Program (Lower, Upper, and Middle) 7pm
December 17th- Lower Elementary goes bowling 10-11am
December 18th- Lower to Shelby Ridge 10-11am
December 19th- Dismiss at 1pm - No Aftercare
December 22nd - January 2nd - No School (Winter Break)

Week in Review: November 10th -14th

We had a wonderful week in Lower Elementary! Students were busy at work rounding numbers, researching the flags of North American countries, and editing sentences for correct punctuation, commas, and capitalization.

For language jobs this week, first grade students were introduced to homonyms and edited sentences. Second grade students reviewed homonyms, homophones, and homographs, edited sentences, and reviewed the rules for making words plural. Third grade students continued working with suffixes, edited sentences, and reviewed the rules for making words plural.

For math jobs this week, first grade students practiced addition facts, counted sets of quarters, and reviewed skip counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's. Second grade students worked with math operations, practiced counting coins to solve word problems, and reviewed rounding numbers to the ten, hundreds, and thousands place. Third grade students worked with math operations, practiced making change, and reviewed rounding numbers to the tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten thousands place.

For cultural jobs this week, students began independent research on a flag from a North American county. Students also participated in the Fourth Great Lesson - The Coming of Language as well as a lesson identifying the different climate zones found on the Earth.

Next week, students will solve problems using various math operations, work with fractions, finish their flag research, and investigate some of the earliest known cave drawings found in France.

Montessori Minute- The Fourth Great Lesson 

The Fourth Great Lesson is the Story of Language and Written Communication (sometimes called Communication is Signs). It presents the basic story of how people living in different places developed their own spoken languages, and then began to create ways to write their ideas down. The story explains how trade, involving long journeys, was one impetus to develop written language, as was the need to maintain records and set down a record of events and stories. Included in the story are pictographs, symbols, hieroglyphs, early alphabets, and the invention of the printing press. This lesson introduces many concepts and serves to awaken the curiosity for further study into multiple areas such as: Reading (e.g. literature, poetry, non-fiction, myths and folk tales, authors, reading comprehension, reading analysis, literary terms); Writing (e.g. elements of style, function, voice, composition, letter writing, research, study skills); Structure of Writing (e.g. alphabets, spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence analysis, word study, figures of speech); Language (e.g. origins of spoken language, foreign languages, history of languages, speech, drama).

Reminders

- Homework is sent home each Monday. Please return homework the following Friday. We also encourage students to read every night for 30 minutes and to record it on their reading log.

-JBMA is currently participating in a community service project by collecting food supplies for The Catholic Center of Concern. Lower Elementary is collecting cereal (boxed or bagged). Please continue to bring these items in through Friday, November 21st. On November 21st, everyone is encouraged to bring FRESH fruits or vegetables to the Peace Ceremony.

Important Dates 

November 21st- Peace Assembly 9:00
November 21st - Talent Show 7:00
November 25th - Dismiss at 1:00
November 26th, 27th, 28th - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)